Truck crane for fifth wheel



July 22, 1952 L. M. FRANCIS 4,3

TRUCK CRANE FOR FIFTH WHEEL Filed July ll, 1947 2 SHEETS -SHEET l JNVENTOR. LYNN M. FRANCES July 22, 1952 M. FRANCIS TRUCK CRANE FOR FIFTH WHEEL 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed July 11, 1947 s mm mm R mF M N N Y L I4 TTOR/VEV Patented July 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in a detachable crane which is particularly adapted for mounting on the conventional fifth wheel of a tractor.

There are many instances when an operator of a fleet of trucks, for example, temporarily needs a mobile or portable crane for lifting heavy objects and for assisting in the loading of equip ment. Prior to the present invention, cranes for such purposes were mounted on a truck or tractor for hauling to the work site as desired. A serious objection to such a practice has been the indefinite tying up of a tractor during periods when the crane is not in use. It is frequent that the crane is required only for part time use, so that a conveniently applied means for detachable I mounting the crane to the tractor is highly desirable for freeing the latter for other purposes.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a readily demountable crane mechanism which may be used for hoisting or lifting heavy objects and which may be quickly and easily detachably mounted on the conventional fifth wheel 'of a tractor, the crane being readily demountable after serving its temporary purpose so as to permit use of the tractor for other work.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and. appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

l is a side elevation of a clemountable crane embodying the present invention and shown in position on the fifth wheel of a tractor.

Fig. 2 is essentially an enlarged end view taken from the left end of Fig. l, the tractor being removed and a portion of the tractor chassis being shown in phantom.

Fig. 3 is essentially a side view of the crane apparatus shown in Fig. 2, the fifth Wheel and portions of the tractor being shown in phantom.

Fig.4 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the attachment of the king pin to the crane support and being taken in the direction of the arrows essentially along the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the mechanism for clamping the crane support to the tractor frame and being taken in the direction of the arrows essentially alo-ng the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is essentially a fragmentary top view of the cable winding winch.

Before explaining the present invention in dc tail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring to the drawings, a particular embodiment of a detachable crane employing the present invention is shown by way of example in Fig. I mounted on the conventional fifth wheel Ill of a tractor H. Details of the crane construction are shown in the'enlarged views, Figs. 2 and 3, wherein an angle iron truss structure provides the framework of the crane. A pair of heavy load supporting vertical uprights I2 are adjustably connected to the extensible stand or legs l3 by means of the bolts M. A cross brace or footing i5 secured to the base of the stand or legs !3 is provided for resting on the horizontal tractor channel frame structure l6, shown in phantom, Figs. 2 and 3. A horizontal winch supporting platform I! is secured to the uprights 12 and legs l3 by a pair of the bolts I4, extends toward the tractor H over the fifth wheel 58 thereof, and provides the depending kin-g pin it for locking within the open jaws of the fifth wheel according to conventional practice.

Inasmuch as the height of the fifth wheel ll) above the horizontal tractor frame If; varies with different makes of tractors, a plurality of bolt holes IS in the uprights l2 and legs [3 for the bolts M permit selective vertical adjustment of the footing i5 and enable the winch latform I! to ride essentially horizontally with the footing i5 resting on the frame it. A clamping assembly is provided at each end of the footing l5 for clamping the same to the channel frame l6 and includes a clamp 20 on the underside of the footing l5 for engaging a portion of the channel frame it between itself and the footing I5, a clamping bolt 2i extended upward through the clamp 20 and through a slotted bolt opening 22 provided therefor in the foo-ting l5, and a handle nut 23 screwed on the clamping bolt 2! above the footing 5 for securelyclamping the channel frame l6 between the footing l5 and clamp 25?. lhe bolt slot 22 extends longitudinally of the footing Hi to permit lateral adjustment of the clamping assembly in accordance with the varying spacing between the horizontal channel frame members it of different types of tractors A pair of converging inclined crane booms 24 extend upward and rearward from opposite sides of the forward portion of the winch platform l! to which they are secured by the bolts 25, to attachments near their mid-portions with the load supporting uprights !2 by means of the bolts 26. The upper ends of the converging booms 24 are joined by the pulley shaft 2'! on which is journaled the pulley 2B.

A pair of upper boom supports 29 extend from attachments at the ends of the pulley shaft 21 to attachments with the upper portions of the uprights I2 by the heavy shaft bolt 30. Similarly a pair of lower boom supports 3| extend from opposite ends of the shaft bolt 39 to the platform I1 whereat the bolts secure both the booms 24 and supports 3| to the forward sides of the platform I'I'. upper portions of the uprights I2 to secure one of each to the ends of the corresponding boom supports 29 and 3|.

Figs. 3 and 6 show details of the winch con-. struction, which comprises a hand operated winch in the present instance, although a motor-driven.

winch is feasible for use where desired with other embodiments of the present invention. The winch drum 33 is rotatable on the winch shaft 34, which is journaled at opposite ends within the pair of upright brackets 35, which in turn are secured to the winch supporting platform IT by the plurality of bolts 36. Rotatable with the winch drum 33 is the large driven gear 31, which is in gear drivingrelationship with the small drive gear 38 mounted on the shaft 39 for rotation therewith. Theshaft 39 is also journaled within the pair of upright brackets and provides the crank arm 40 for rotation of the winch drum 33. A cable 4| is wound on the winch drum 33 and threaded through the pulley 23 and'hoist pulley block 42 in a conventional manner for raising'or lowering the hoist block 42 and load supporting hook 43 secured thereto upon rotation of the crank arm 40. A loop 44 to receive the hook'43 and to prevent swinging thereof when it is not in use is provided by the plate 45, secured to the rear portions of the uprights I2, Fig. 3. Unreeling of the winch drum 33 may be prevented by the pawl 46 pivotally secured at 41 to a projection of the platform H for engaging the-teeth of the gear 31.

Details of the mounting of the king pin I8 to the platform I! are shown in Fig. 4. The king pin I8 provides the flanged base 48 which rests on the upper surface of the platform I! and holds the body of the king pin I8 in place as the latter projects through the opening 49 provided therefor in the platform H. The flange 48 is detachably secured to the platform IT by the plurality of bolts 59. Thus king pins of various sizes may be readily detachably secured to the platform II.

In operation of the present invention, the crane assembly is mounted in position over the conventional tractor fifth wheel ID, with the king pin I8 locked within the jaw thereof by the conventional fifth wheel lock, and with the extensible legs. I3 suitably adjusted so that the footing I5 rests on the frame IS with the platform I! essen-' tially horizontal. The clamps 20 are then laterally adjusted to engage the horizontal channel frames I6 of the body of the truck II and are tightened by turning the respective handle nuts 23 to securely clamp the frames I6 to the footing I5. The crane is readily dismounted upon loosening the handle nuts 23 and unlocking the king pin I 8 from the fifth wheel Iil.

By means of the drawings and description herein, a novel and desirable crane and mounting have been disclosed which is particularly adapted for detachably mounting to a tractor having a fifth wheel, thereby providing acrane which may be temporarily mounted to the tractor for specific purposes and which may be readily removed to free the tractor for other purposes. 'Although av fixed-base type of crane has been shown in the present instance, it will be apparent 'to those skilled in the art that swivel or dippingcranes may also be mounted in essentially the manner described. Furthermore, although. the referred The bolt 36 extends between the embodiment of the present invention employs the king pin I8 for detachably connecting with the tractor fifth wheel II), it will be'apparent to the skilled technician that other clamping means may be readily employed to detachably secure the crane to the fifth wheel I0 without departing from the spirit of my invention, namely, to detachably mount a crane to the conventional tractor fifth wheel.

I claim:

1. A detachable crane adapted for quick and easy attachment to a tractor having a fifth wheel without altering the tractor construction and including a crane supporting frame comprising a pair of vertical uprights adjustably connected to a pair of vertical legs, a cross member secured to the base of said legs and adapted for attachment to a tractor frame, a horizontal winch supporting platform secured to the tractor fifth wheel and the said uprights, a pair of converging inclined crane booms connected to the forward portion of said winch platform and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, being connected near their mid-portions with the said vertical uprights, a pair of upper boom support extending from the upper ends of said booms to the upper ends of said uprights, and a pair of lower boom supports extending from the upper ends of said uprights to the forward portion of said winch supporting platform; a detachable king pin connected to the said winch supporting platform for detachably connecting with the tractor fifth wheel; detachable clamping means for clamping the said cross member of the crane supporting frame to the tractor frame; and a winch disposed on said.

winch supporting platform.

2. A detachable crane adapted for quick and easy attachment to a tractor having a fifth wheel without altering the tractor construction and including a crane supporting frame comprising a pair of vertical uprights adjustably connected to a pair of vertical legs, a cross member secured to the base of said legs and adapted for attachment to a tractor frame, a horizontal winch supporting platform secured to the tractor fifth wheel and the said uprights, a pair of converging inclined crane booms connected to the forward portion of said winch platform and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, being connected near their mid-portions with the said vertical uprights, a pair of upper boom supports extending from the upper ends of said booms to the upper ends of said uprights, and a pair of lower boom supports extending from the upper ends of said uprights to the forward portion of said winch supporting platform; means for detachably mounting said winch supporting platform on said tractor fifth wheel; means for detachably clamping said cross member of the crane supporting frame to the tractor frame; and a winch disposed on said winch supporting platform.

LYNN M. FRANCIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Number Name Date 1,425,045 Owen Aug, 8, 1922 1,551,132 Butler Aug. 25, 1925 1,579,962 Shutt et al. Apr. 6, 1926 2,331,713 Mosling Oct. 12, 1943 2,360,654 Day Oct. 17, 1944 2,515,833 Mueller July 18, 1950 

